University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Murray State
UNI volleyball hosts Murray State for homecoming weekend
10/2/2025 1:17:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Panthers look to stay unbeaten all-time against the Racers in Saturday afternoon matchup.
UNI volleyball (10-5 / 3-0 MVC) vs. Murray State (2-9 / 0-2 MVC)
- Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025
- 1 p.m. CT
- Cedar Falls, Iowa | McLeod Center (6,650)
- LISTEN (Panther Sports Radio Network) [Chris Kleinhans-Schulz: Play-by-Play)
- LIVE RESULTS
- TICKETS
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The UNI volleyball team returns home to the McLeod Center for the first time in a month this Saturday afternoon as the Panthers host the Murray State Racers in a weekend Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) matchup during homecoming weekend.
First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT with live coverage available on the Panther Sports Radio Network (106.5 FM Corn Country / 93.5 HD-2) with Chris Kleinhans-Schulz on the call. Due to UNI's homecoming football game, the match will not be televised.
Tickets for Tuesday's match, as well as single-match and season tickets for the 2025 volleyball season can be purchased online through the UNI Ticket Office, by calling 319-273-4849 or through email at tickets@uni.edu.Â
Fans with Panther football tickets can use their tickets for admission to Saturday's match. Volleyball specific tickets cannot be used for football admission, while fans are also reminded of UNI Athletics' no re-entry policy.
Northern Iowa is a perfect 5-0 all-time against the Racers, including 4-0 since Murray State joined the MVCÂ in 2022.
The Panthers return home after a nine-match road swing, most recently securing a 3-1 win at Drake on Tuesday night to improve to 3-0 in league play. Cassidy Hartman tied her career-high with 23 kills in the Panther victory in Des Moines, as Reese Booth set a new career-high with 29 assists in a double-double outing. UNI's blocking defense was also a key factor in its win at Drake, racking up 11 blocks, while at the service line the Panthers dished out six service aces, including a career-high three aces from Taryn Rice.
The Panthers have won 39 consecutive matches against MVC opponents in the regular season (45 in a row including the MVC postseason), tied for the third-longest regular season conference winning streak in team history. Northern Iowa's last loss to an MVC opponent came in the 2022 regular season finale at Drake.
UNI ranks third in all of Division I volleyball with 39.2 attacks per set, as well as eighth in kills (14.4), ninth in assists (13.3) and 19th in digs per set (16.5). The Panthers also lead the MVC in kills and assists per set, while ranking second in the league in digs per frame.
Hartman is second in the MVC in kills per set (3.82) and has posted ten matches with ten or more kills in 2025. Fellow outside hitter Lily Dykstra has recorded eight or more kills in all 15 matches this year, including 16 straight contests dating back to the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. She currently ranks third in the MVC with 3.71 kills per frame.
Booth anchors Northern Iowa with 6.06 assists per set with redshirt freshman defensive specialist/libero Jadyn Petersen leading the Panther defense with 4.43 digs per set. At the net, redshirt freshman Maryn Bixby has posted a team-high 45 blocks on the year, as Lindsay Oldendorf has recorded 40 total blocks.
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SCOUTING MURRAY STATE
The Racers wrap a two-match road trip to Iowa on Saturday after playing Drake on Friday night in Des Moines. Murray State has struggled out of the gate this year, sitting at 2-9 entering the weekend and 0-2 in MVC play. Led by 27th year head coach David Schwepker, the Racers are coming off back-to-back 3-1 losses to Belmont and Southern Illinois last weekend.
Outside hitter Ella Vogel, a member of the 2025 All-MVC Preseason Team, has anchored Murray State through the tough stretch of play ranking in the top-five in the league in both kills per set (3.59) and points per frame (4). Nicole Federica leads the Racers with nine service aces on the year, while Halle Forester has recorded 3.31 digs per set and Morgan McClure posting a team-high 27 blocks.
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UNI volleyball action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Volleyball), X (@UNIVolleyball) and on Instagram (@univolleyball). The full 2025 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
